Mattingly gives Gonzalez night off vs. Nats

WASHINGTON -- First baseman Adrian Gonzalez wasn't in the starting lineup on Tuesday, as manager Don Mattingly wanted to give the veteran a little break.

Mattingly said he spoke with Gonzalez about a day off in recent days. The timing could help the first baseman, who was mired in an 0-for-15 slump.

Gonzalez went 0-for-4 in Monday's loss with a strikeout and found out after that game that he'd be out Tuesday.

Mattingly said that Gonzalez wasn't hurt, just getting a break.

"He's good," Mattingly said. "I could see him getting tired. When I talked to him about it, I could tell he wasn't fighting me."

Gonzalez is 5-for-28 on the road trip and is tied for second in the National League with nine homers and tied for third with 25 RBIs.